Northwestern sets 2018-19 costs

EVANSTON - Undergraduate tuition, fees, and room and board charges at Northwestern University will increase 3.6 percent for the 2018-19 academic year. The increase is the same as last year and consistent with other peer research universities.

Specifically, undergraduate tuition will increase 3.6 percent to $54,120 for the 2018-2019 academic year from the current year’s $52,239. Student activity and athletic fees will increase 3.3 percent to $247 while the student health fee will remain unchanged at $200. Standard room and board rates will increase 3.6 percent to $16,626 from $16,047 for an undergraduate student living in a double room with a full meal plan option. Approximately 3,600 of Northwestern’s 8,100 full-time undergraduate students live in University residence halls.

The University will provide more than $196 million in aid to undergraduates in 2018-2019, an increase of 9.6 percent over the current year total of $179 million. The additional aid will allow Northwestern to provide increased funds for students from low-income families and will also further support students from middle-income families. Approximately half of Northwestern’s undergraduate students receive financial aid from the University.

Northwestern will continue its policy of “need-blind” admission for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, in which a student’s ability to pay is not considered during the admission process. In addition, the University will continue its policy, which began in 2016, that all entering first-year students who receive financial aid will not have loans as part of their financial aid package. Their aid offer will include only grants, scholarships, summer earnings expectations and a work-study job opportunity. The all-grant package enables students to graduate without incurring debt for their main educational expenses. For returning students who entered before 2016, the total for need-based loans from Northwestern has been capped at a maximum of $20,000.

Northwestern also has increased the availability of financial aid for international students. In addition, the University now offers financial assistance for Northwestern students who are undocumented and graduated from a U.S. high school.

Graduate school tuition also will increase by 3.6 percent to $54,120 next year. Tuition and fees for the Feinberg School of Medicine, the Kellogg School of Management and the Pritzker School of Law are currently being reviewed.